.... Another thing that's really cool to point out in Mark Chapter 1, verses 16-20, choosing fishermen to be his disciples, is that the Bible tells us that IMMEDIATELY they left their nets to follow him. Fishing was their livelyhood. It's what they did for a living. It's how they fed themselves. It's where they got their income. It was a steady job. There's must've been something pretty amazing; pretty alluring about the presence of Jesus. There wasn't a doubt in their mind of what to do. They didn't question and say, "hmmm... well.. I'll be leaving my job, my stability, even what I'm talented in... How do I know this will work? How do I know I will be taken care of?" They didn't need to. Their encounter with Jesus led them to drop everything to follow him... A true encounter will lead you to do that... And as I mentioned earlier - Jesus used their gifts for his kingdom. They went from catching small fish for feeding the flesh, to catching human lives for God's Kingdom..
I have found myself struggling... as a currently unemployed minister - I have questioned if I should have gotten a "normal" career many years ago. Something that plays it safe. Something that is stable, feeds the family, etc... It's hard for ministers to constantly change churches, jobs, salaries, etc, especially for the family (who may have to change schools and friends as well). Just as I question such things, the Lord leads me to a book like John Eldredge's Wild At Heart, which tells me that I am doing the right thing. It tells us to live adventurous lives for God. It tells us to do what God has called us to do, regardless of what the world says, or the institutional church says (it is dead for the most part... just continue reading the blogs I'm posting about the book of Mark - you will see what i mean.)
God calls us to something greater. The majority of Christians learn to "play it safe", including many churches as well. But God wants us to let go of everything we know and to be SOLD OUT to him, following him WHEREVER he leads us... Are we willing to live adventurous, sold out lives for his kingdom? - To stop playing church, stop being Sunday Christians, stop living lives of "stability" for a chance of something GREATER for God's kingdom? What about Abraham? What if he didn't take the chance of leaving his hometown on a mysterious adventure without much "security" in sight? What if he said, "nah, it's too risky... I'll stay here where I'm comfortable in a predictable land, predictable life, keeping my insurance and benefits and 401k in a stable job, etc..."
God has designed all of us for something... we know because it drives us... it's a passion within us... but it was given to us to use to advance God's kingdom. Sometimes we kill the dream by "reality" - or with fear of failure or lack of stability... We don't become crazy all-out who God wants us to truly be.
It's like God calls us to stand on the edge of a cliff to see how beautiful and crazy life can truly be... but we are afraid - afraid we'll fall... afraid God will push us off... and guess what? He does... he pushes hard if we dare stand up there and see the beauty of true life... and as we fall (and freak out), He shows us that with his Holy Spirit - we can FLY!!!! And it's the most amazing trip we've ever been on.
FYI - what we are called to, regardless of our gifts, is to radically change lives for Christ... That doesn't happen by playing it safe or living predictable, stable, secure lives.
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